Biological molecules

Question 1

define monomer, polymer and macromolecule

Answer 1

monomer - individual molecules that make up a polymer
polymer - long chains of bonded monomers in a repeated pattern
macromolecule - large complex molecules with large molecular masses

Question 2

define dimer and oligomer

Answer 2

dimer - molecule consisting of two identical molecules linked together
oligomer - polymer whose molecules of relatively few repeating units

Question 3

define condensation reaction and hydrolysis reaction

Answer 3

condensation reaction - a reaction between two molecules to produce a larger molecule and the release of water
hydrolysis reaction - breakdown on a large molecule to form two smaller molecules involving the addition of a water molecule

Question 4

define metabolism, catabolic reaction and anabolic reaction

Answer 4

metabolism - chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life
catabolic reaction - reaction of metabolism that break down larger molecules into smaller units releasing energy
anabolic reaction - reaction of metabolism that constructs larger molecules from smaller sub units requires energy from hydrolysis of ATP

Question 5

list the four main categories of biological molecules

Answer 5

proteins
lipids
carbohydrates
nucleic acids

Question 6

Summarise the name of the building blocks, the name of the dimer, the name of the macromolecule, whether or not the macromolecule is a polymer, the name of the bond that links the building blocks together, the name of the reaction that joins the building blocks together, the name of the reaction that breaks the macromolecule apart, examples of the functions of the molecules and the elements that make up the molecules for carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Include examples of names of specific molecules where appropriate

Answer 6

Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, they are polymers, glycosidic bond, condensation reaction, hydrolysis, respiration-cell wall-cell signalling etc.
Lipids: fatty acids and glycerol, (monoglyceride, diglyceride) and triglyceride, not a polymer, ester bond, condensation, hydrolysis, source of energy-membrane structure-hormones etc.
Proteins: amino acids, dipeptide, polypeptide, they are polymers, peptide bond, condensation, hydrolysis, transport molecules-enzymes-antibodies etc.
Nucleic acids: nucleotides, dinucleotide, polynucleotide, they are polymers, phosphodiester bond, condensation, hydrolysis, genetic material-protein synthesis etc.

Question 7

define single bond and double bond

Answer 7

single bond - a chemical bond where one pair of electrons is shared between two atoms
double bond - a chemical bond where two pairs of electrons is shared between two atoms

Question 8

define inorganic, cation and anion

Answer 8

inorganic - relating to compounds that ae not organic (usually no carbon present)